Eco-Friendly Penny Cleaning Tips

If you are looking for ways how to clean a penny you'll have no problem finding many suggestions from a simple search on the internet. Can acid clean a penny? The answer to that question is quite simple. Cleaning pennies with mild acids such as lemon juice or vinegar can definitely be good option for cleaning old copper pennies. This has been determined through several simple experiments that just about anybody can do.

You may feel a bit overwhelmed by suggestions if you are a beginner coin collector, but there's no reason to worry because before you know it you'll be able to offer helpful suggestions yourself. Be advised that you shouldn't experiment with your valuable coins. I am amazed at how many collectors will still try new cleaning experiments on coins that have high value to them. Before using any new type of cleaning method, test the method out on a coin or similar type of metal before applying the technique to your valuable finds.

One of the most simple and common methods of cleaning a penny is to use lemon juice. All you need is a paper cup, lemon juice, and some paper towels. I personally use an old dish towel rather than paper towels, but either type of towel is suitable. Fill the paper cup up with lemon juice, drop the penny in the cup, and wait five minutes or so. After the time has passed, remove the penny from the cup and gently rub the penny with the towel, and you will now find that your penny has begun to shine once again.

Now, you may want to keep in mind that if the penny you are trying to clean is extremely dark and dirty, a five minute dunk into some lemon juice will not be your answer to make the penny bright and shiny once again. If you are a bit brave and have the desire to experiment, why not try doctoring up the lemon juice a bit. You'll find that if you pour some salt into the lemon juice, it just may produce some better results. Like I mentioned earlier, it's all about experimenting to see what types of methods will work the best.

Through my experiments, I don't think that lemon juice is the best option. The reason I say this is that there is no consistency. Other methods I have used have produced much better results than lemon juice. But there is certainly no reason why you can't try the technique yourself. If you are wondering why lemon juice has the ability to clean the penny, the explanation is quite simple. Over time a nice and clean penny will most likely lose its shine after developing a coating of oxide. Oxide develops on the penny after its exposure to the oxygen in the air. Lemon juice is a mild acid that has the ability to remove this oxide.

If you are wondering which juice cleans pennies better, you may want to experiment a little bit more. Be bold and try cleaning pennies with fruit juices, orange juice, vinegar, and even hot sauce. Can orange juice clean a penny? Can hot sauce clean a penny? These other options certainly can do the job. All of these will produce similar cleaning results as the lemon juice. Some tend to work better than others, so you'll really have to just try and see the results yourself. If you spend some time and research various cleaning options, you will eventually find a method that will work perfect for you.